A Pediatric Perspective : COTAhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/tags/COTA/default.aspxTags: COTAenCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Debug Build: 0.0)COTA/L to OT/R – Decisions, Decisionshttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2014/01/24/cota-l-to-ot-r-decisions-decisions.aspxFri, 24 Jan 2014 14:39:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:84931Wendy Spoor-Hof7http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/84931.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=84931On a personal note, I have been working at a COTA/L since 2003 when I graduated from Bay Path College's weekend COTA program. It was a wonderful program that allowed me to work full time and attend college on the weekends. It was hard work but with the...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2014/01/24/cota-l-to-ot-r-decisions-decisions.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=84931" width="1" height="1">collegeCOTAEmployment/EconomyTherapist, Mother, Writer, Advocate, Friendhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2013/09/11/therapist-mother-writer-advocate-friend.aspxWed, 11 Sep 2013 13:14:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:83060Wendy Spoor-Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/83060.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=83060I wanted to take today's blog to share with you a little bit about who I am, where I've come from, and where I'm hoping to go. I'm hoping this little insight may make you feel a little more comfortable in asking for advice, sharing your stories, or just...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2013/09/11/therapist-mother-writer-advocate-friend.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=83060" width="1" height="1">birth to threeCOTAdevelopmental delaysdevelopmental milestonesPediatricsschool aged childrensensory integrationCOTAs in School Based Practicehttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2013/04/12/cota-s-in-school-based-practice.aspxFri, 12 Apr 2013 20:51:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:80055Cecilia Cruse0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/80055.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=80055I read Jennifer’s recent blog entitled Defending COTAs a few weeks ago and it got me thinking about this from a pediatric perspective. As an OTR I have worked with some wonderful COTAs in a hospital setting, but not in school based practice so I thought...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2013/04/12/cota-s-in-school-based-practice.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=80055" width="1" height="1">COTAOTPediatricsschool aged childrenspecial educationWelcome to December and the return of the Pediatric Perspective blog http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/12/01/welcome-to-december-and-the-return-of-the-pediatric-perspective-blog.aspxThu, 02 Dec 2010 03:18:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:55639Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/55639.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=55639"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before it's afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" ~Dr. Seuss OK, raise of hands, how many people were caught by surprise that it's already...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/12/01/welcome-to-december-and-the-return-of-the-pediatric-perspective-blog.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=55639" width="1" height="1">blogchildrenCOTAfeedingkidsoccupational therapyPediatricsTuesday Tidbit - OT once again makes US News & World Report best careers in 2009http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/03/02/tuesday-tidbit-ot-makes-us-news-world-report-best-careers-in-2009.aspxWed, 03 Mar 2010 02:42:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:46542Wendy Hof2http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/46542.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=46542Once again Occupational Therapy has made the top career list for 2009 . Yay us!!! There is even mention of how Occupational Therapists are now being used as consultants for building developers. We've come a long way baby!! The article reports that the...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/03/02/tuesday-tidbit-ot-makes-us-news-world-report-best-careers-in-2009.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=46542" width="1" height="1">best careerbirth to threechildrenCOTAEducationEmployment/Economyenrollment in OT programsGeneral Health Care Geriatricshospitalsjob huntingjob postingsoccupational therapyOTOT in the newsOT job outlookPediatricsSNFStudent Issues and News2 Years and still a little clueless ..http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/02/21/2-years-and-still-a-little-clueless.aspxMon, 22 Feb 2010 03:15:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:46221Wendy Hof1http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/46221.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=46221It's hard to believe it's been two years since I started writing this blog. I had read somewhere that the average blog life is about 18 months before the blog is abandoned. This is a long time to try and think of new and interesting things to share. I'm...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/02/21/2-years-and-still-a-little-clueless.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=46221" width="1" height="1">birth to threeblogchildrenCOTAeatingEducationfeedingGeneral Interestinspirationalnutritonoccupational therapyoral motorOTpediatricPediatricsself feedingsensory activitiesTuesday Tidbits - Feeding & Oral Motor Classeshttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/01/19/tuesday-tidbits-feeding-oral-motor-classes.aspxTue, 19 Jan 2010 16:37:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:44954Wendy Hof1http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/44954.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=44954With a new year upon us and with many of us having had to renew our licenses and/or certifications I thought it might be a good idea to share a list of classes in the area of feeding &amp; oral motor to help with our CEU requirements. In the coming weeks...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2010/01/19/tuesday-tidbits-feeding-oral-motor-classes.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=44954" width="1" height="1">birth to threeCEUchildrenCOTAeatingEducationeducational classesfeedingoral motorOTpediatricPediatricsrehabilitationself feedingseminarsspecial dietsTuesday Tidbit - The Spit Cuphttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/10/19/tuesday-tidbit-the-spit-cup.aspxTue, 20 Oct 2009 03:42:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:42616Wendy Hof1http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/42616.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=42616When it comes to picky eaters one of the biggest challenges we have as therapists is getting the child to even taste something. There is, of course, an entire protocol to getting a sensory defensive child to allow food to be 1) in the room, 2) on the...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/10/19/tuesday-tidbit-the-spit-cup.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=42616" width="1" height="1">&quot;spit cup&quot;ASDAutismbirth to threechildrenCOTAeatingfeedingnutritonoral motorOTPediatricsself feedingsensory activitiessensory defensivenesssensory inputsensory playspecial dietsspoon feedingOne word: "support"http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/10/07/one-word-support.aspxWed, 07 Oct 2009 16:03:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:42301Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/42301.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=42301No matter who you are or what you do I truly believe that the one word that can help each and everyone of us through the challenges we may face in our lives is the word "support". Think about it. When you are having a tough day, when everything seems...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/10/07/one-word-support.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=42301" width="1" height="1">ASDAutismbirth to threechildrenCOTADown SyndromeeatingEducationGeneral NewsinspirationalMental Healthoccupational therapyPediatricsLearning to Use a Straw - Honey Bear Cup vs Juice Box http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/09/02/learning-to-use-a-straw-honey-bear-cup-vs-juice-box.aspxThu, 03 Sep 2009 03:17:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:41371Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/41371.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=41371One of the things that interested me the most about becoming an Occupational Therapist was that we could look outside the box when it came to figuring out how to help the people we worked with. I loved how OT's are considered to be creative and innoventive...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/09/02/learning-to-use-a-straw-honey-bear-cup-vs-juice-box.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=41371" width="1" height="1">COTAdrinkinghoney bearoral motorPediatricssippy cupsstraw drinkingPediatric Jobs ...http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/08/21/pediatric-jobs.aspxFri, 21 Aug 2009 15:27:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:41032Wendy Hof2http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/41032.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=41032Thanks so much to everyone who responded via email and messages. I'm glad to see that what is being reported by the media is also what we are all seeing out in the "real world". Here in CT jobs in SNF are still the most available type of OT jobs out there...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/08/21/pediatric-jobs.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=41032" width="1" height="1">birth to threechildrenCOTAEducationjob huntingOTOT job outlookPediatricsA Couple Quick Questions ... http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/08/02/a-couple-quick-questions.aspxMon, 03 Aug 2009 03:10:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:40382Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/40382.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=40382I apologize for disappearing for a couple months but I am now back and will be working on getting the Pediatric Perspective back to twice a week blog entries. I thought I would start off with a couple questions I have been wondering about and I am hoping...(<a href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2009/08/02/a-couple-quick-questions.aspx">read more</a>)<img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=40382" width="1" height="1">birth to threeCOTAEducationEmployment/EconomyOT job outlookPediatricsspecial needsOral Motor & Feeding Infohttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/05/08/oral-motor-feeding-info.aspxThu, 08 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:29066Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/29066.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=29066<P>Back in&nbsp;February I had posted a <A title=http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/02/12/tuesday-tidbit-helpful-oral-motor-sites-articles.aspx#comments href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/02/12/tuesday-tidbit-helpful-oral-motor-sites-articles.aspx#comments">blog</A> listing some helpful oral motor sites &amp; articles and Samana Khan had left me a comment asking if I knew of any good oral motor/feeding courses.&nbsp; I would like to apologize to Samana first for taking so long to respond to her question and I would like to offer a few courses and books here that I have found helpful.&nbsp; </P>
<P>Working in the birth to three population I find that the role of helping with oral motor and/or feeding issues is usually left up to the Occupational Therapist or COTA.&nbsp; I know that this is not always the case when it comes to rehabilitation hospitals as the role there is primarily left to the Speech Language Therapist, with the OT/COTA backing them up.&nbsp; Oral motor and feeding is a hard topic to become proficient on&nbsp; because each child is individual and the reason they may not be eating could be due to any number of reasons.&nbsp; I'll go into this a little further in my next blog later this week.&nbsp; For now I would like to list some seminars and books that I have found helpful.</P>
<P>Classes are few and far between and there are times when the class tends to be more technical then helpful.&nbsp; I have tried to attend a few classes but find that I relay a good deal on books to help me with my oral motor/feeding strategies.&nbsp; With that in mind I wanted to offer this list of classes and books that you may find helpful.&nbsp; If there are other seminars/classes/books that you've found helpful I would love to hear about them.&nbsp; I will add to this list as new ones come to my attention.</P>
<P>I learned a lot from the first&nbsp;two classes/seminars in particular:</P>
<P><A title=http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/02/12/tuesday-tidbit-helpful-oral-motor-sites-articles.aspx#comments href="http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/02/12/tuesday-tidbit-helpful-oral-motor-sites-articles.aspx#comments">Picky Eaters or Problem Eaters</A> (the SOS approach to Feeding) - given by <A title=http://www.educationresourcesinc.com/index.cfm?event=CourseDetails&amp;CategoryID=8&amp;SubcategoryID=10&amp;CourseID=116 href="http://www.educationresourcesinc.com/index.cfm?event=CourseDetails&amp;CategoryID=8&amp;SubcategoryID=10&amp;CourseID=116">Education Resources, Inc.</A></P>
<P><A title=http://mealtimenotions.com/workshops.htm href="http://mealtimenotions.com/workshops.htm">Tube Feeding with Love</A> -&nbsp; given by <A title=http://mealtimenotions.com/index.htm href="http://mealtimenotions.com/index.htm">Mealtime Notions</A> (even though it is based on helping the therapist who works with children on tube feedings I came back with a lot of basic oral motor and sensory strategies that have helped children who were not on tube feeds).</P>
<P><A title=http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com/schedule1.htm href="http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com/schedule1.htm">Beckman Oral Motor Seminars</A> - lists various seminars taught by Debra Beckman providing intensive hands-on workshops to learn the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol. </P>
<P><A title=http://www.talktools.net/s.nl/sc.23/category.1340/.f href="http://www.talktools.net/s.nl/sc.23/category.1340/.f">Innovative Therapists International</A> - Oral Motor and Sensory Motor therapy seminars.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>A few books on the subject also ....</P>
<P><A title=http://www.amazon.com/Oral-Motor-Assessment-Treatment-Stages/dp/0205297862/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1210045327&amp;sr=8-6 href="http://www.amazon.com/Oral-Motor-Assessment-Treatment-Stages/dp/0205297862/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1210045327&amp;sr=8-6">Oral Motor Assessment and Treatment:&nbsp; Ages and Stages</A> - </P>
<P><A title=http://www.amazon.com/Food-Chaining-Proven-Feeding-Problems/dp/1600940161/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1210045482&amp;sr=8-14 href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Chaining-Proven-Feeding-Problems/dp/1600940161/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1210045482&amp;sr=8-14">Food Chaining</A>: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Childs Diet (Paperback)</P>
<P><A title=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932565124/ref=pd_luc_0000116009401611932565124 href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932565124/ref=pd_luc_0000116009401611932565124">Just Take a Bite</A> - (One of <I>my</I> favorite books to go back and get ideas from) - "Just Take a Bite" takes parents and professionals step by step through the myths about eating to the complexity of eating itself, which leads to an understanding of physical, neurological and/or psychological reason why children may not be eating as they should. </P>
<P><A title=http://www.amazon.com/Just-Two-More-Bites-Helping/dp/1400081092/ref=pd_sim_b_img_12 href="http://www.amazon.com/Just-Two-More-Bites-Helping/dp/1400081092/ref=pd_sim_b_img_12">Just Two More Bites!:</A> Helping Picky Eaters Say Yes to Food</P>
<P><I></I>&nbsp;</P>
<P><I>As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices:&nbsp; take it or leave it.</I></P>
<P><I>~Buddy Hackett</I></P>
<P><I></I>&nbsp;</P>
<P><I>A three-year-old gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner:&nbsp;</I><I>&nbsp;"I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate."&nbsp;</I></P>
<P><I>~Author Unknown</I></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=29066" width="1" height="1">COTAPediatricsrehabilitationTuesday Tidbits: Inspirational Stories http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/04/30/tuesday-tidbits.aspxWed, 30 Apr 2008 12:13:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:28897Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/28897.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=28897<P align=left>Today's tidbits are links to something we all need to be reminded of from time to time. When you work with children you quickly come to learn that with all the goals met and challenges overcome from time to time you also come across the case that ends up breaking your heart. We don't give up though - we keep teaching and coaching and trying to make a difference in the lives of the children we work with. Today I share with you some inspirational stories to honor the end of occupational therapy month and to remind us all why we are still in this field ... enjoy ....</P>
<P align=left>&nbsp;</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.promoteot.org/CG_Story1.html">"Soon to be a Butterfly"</A> by Beth Larson, Phd, OTR</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.promoteot.org/CG_Story2.html">"Julia speaks with her eyes"</A> by Joyce Saban, Phd, OTR, BCN, FAOTA</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.promoteot.org/CG_Story3.html">"Hello, can I help you?"</A> by Jacqueline Goldberg</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.clearfieldhosp.org/about/press/2008/jan-june08/p2008.04_ot.htm">Occupational therapy helps people rebuild their lives</A><B></P></B>
<P align=left><A href="http://cms.carepages.com/CarePages/en/Stories/StoriesOfInspiration/AdultIllness/Kelley.html">"Kelley's story - getting back on her feet"</A> by Ariel Lewiton</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.rd.com/stories/inspiration/the-brooke-ellison-story/article14059-7.html">The Brooke Ellison Story</A> - by Brooke &amp; Jean Ellison</P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.commonhope.org/ourwork/successstories/jewelry.htm">One bead at a time</A> - from Common Hope website</P>
<P align=left>&nbsp;</P>
<P align=left>Hope you enjoyed a few of these stories and may you find the inspiration you need to continue to grow and bloom in the pediatric occupational therapy field.</P><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=28897" width="1" height="1">COTAPediatricsTuesday Tidbit - Don't forget ... April is OT Month!http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/archive/2008/04/23/tuesday-tidbit-don-t-forget-april-is-ot-month.aspxWed, 23 Apr 2008 11:55:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:28742Wendy Hof0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/comments/28742.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_4/commentrss.aspx?PostID=28742<P align=left>It's that time of year again for all OT's, COTA's and Occupational Therapy students to promote and to share the importance of Occupational Therapy. We are in the profession that is so commonly misunderstood. Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy are fairly widely recognized and what their roles are in rehabilitation is usually understood. When it comes to Occupational Therapy, especially in pediatrics, there seems to be confusion as to what we can offer as a profession to the children we work with. This is why this month is a great way to bring attention to the role of Occupational Therapy in the pediatric rehabilitation field. I've included a few links to sites that will help promote who we are and what we do, not just during OT month but during each and every month. </P><EM>
<P align=left>The American Occupational Therapy Association's awareness resource for the public and the professional: </EM><A href="http://www.promoteot.org/AI_OTMonth.html"><U><EM>http://www.promoteot.org/AI_OTMonth.html</U></EM></A></P><EM>
<P align=left>9 Ways to Celebrate your Profession: </EM><A href="http://www.therapytimes.com/content=6001J64C489EA4941"><U><EM>http://www.therapytimes.com/content=6001J64C489EA4941</U></EM></A></P><EM>
<P align=left>Occupational Therapy - Skills for Daily Living Spotlight: </EM><A href="http://www.imprintmall.com/ot/"><U><EM>http://www.imprintmall.com/ot/</U></EM></A></P><EM>
<P align=left>Advance Healthcare POV - promoting OT month: </EM><A href="http://community.advanceweb.com/forums/thread/27132.aspx"><U><EM>http://community.advanceweb.com/forums/thread/27132.aspx</U></EM></A></P><EM>
<P align=left>American Occupational Therapy Association - Promote OT Month: </EM><A href="http://www.promoteot.org/"><U><EM>http://www.promoteot.org/</U></EM></A></P>
<P align=left>So tell me, what will you be doing to promote OT this month? Inquiring minds wish to know.....</P><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=28742" width="1" height="1">AOTACOTAPediatricsrehabilitation